Representation, Advocacy AND Policy

The RSL Australia National Veterans’ Affairs Committee (NVAC) is the forum where the key policy issues in the veterans’ affairs space are discussed by a council of delegates from each of the RSL State Branches. Recommendations are submitted to the RSL Australia Board. Recommendations endorsed by the board inform the policy priorities RSL will pursue in its representation and lobbying of the Federal Government and other key stakeholders. Read about our policy priorities below.

The RSL actively participates in the Ex-Services Organisation Round Table (ESORT) forum to drive the policy changes needed to improve service provision and outcomes for veterans and their families. ESORT is the main body for consultation between ex-service organisations and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). ESORT aims to address issues of strategic importance to the ex-service and defence communities and assist in setting directions for the medium to long term.

The Operational Working Party (OWP) is a forum designed to facilitate communication between the veteran and ex-service community, the Repatriation and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commissions, and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). This forum is intended to enhance information sharing and improve communication between DVA and ESOs. It is a forum for ESOs to discuss concerns arising from the delivery of DVA services and provide recommendations for improvements in operational policy to promote quality and accountability in service delivery.

The RSL actively and consistently lobbies the government on issues affecting veterans, pushing for the best outcomes. The RSL is actively campaigning on a range of policy reforms focused on reducing bureaucracy and improving access to services and entitlements for veterans and their families. You can read about our policy priorities and read our recent submissions below.

The RSL works with other ex-service organisations in our welfare endeavours and to promote commemorative activities across the community. In response to recommendations from the Royal Commission, RSL initiated the National Forum for ESOs to promote a more coordinated response from the Ex-Service Organisation sector. RSL National and State Branches host the National Form for Ex-Service Organisations which provides a mechanism to meet in the spirit of collaboration and coordination. The forum fosters conversations about systemic issues that concern the veteran and Defence communities and our shared future in addressing these challenges.

During 2021 and 2022, the RSL invested a significant amount of time and resources into supporting the outcomes of the Royal Commission into Veteran and Defence Suicide. The RSL had representatives attend all public Hearings, made a range of detailed submissions, and hosted and participated in working groups. The Royal Commission’s Interim Report, released in August 2022, outlined recommendations that could be pursued immediately. Many of these the RSL had lobbied for via submissions. The RSL remains highly invested in the Royal Commission and its outcomes. The RSL is currently lobbying to establish an implementation body to ensure recommendations from the inquiry are pursued.

April 2024

The RSL has lodged a detailed submission in response to the Government’s release of the draft Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024. The RSL consulted across the breadth of the League to ensure members’ voices inform the development of fit-for-purpose legislation that best serves veterans and their families.

March 2024

The RSL’s letter in support of the submission made by the Defence Welfare Association (DFWA) to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Military Invalidity Payment Mean Testing) Bill 2024. The RSL advocates that the proposed amendments must not negatively impact or reduce the existing payments that are made available to veterans and their families.

March 2024

This submission is made in response to the Aged Care Bill 2023 Exposure Draft. The recommendations in this paper are suggestions as to how the new Aged Care Act can appropriately close the care gap that veterans are currently experiencing as they enter the aged care space. The RSL stands ready to support and inform this important work.

March 2024

This submission is provided by the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSLA) to assist the panel conducting the Reservice Strategic Review as part of the overall Defence Strategic Review (DSR).

February 2024

The 2024-25 Budget presents an opportunity for the Government to address the urgent need to improve access to healthcare for veterans and their families. This paper should be read in addition to the 2024-25 Pre-budget Submission.

January 2024

The RSL is requesting the Federal Government use the 2024-25 Budget to strengthen the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families by improving access to healthcare for veterans and their families, implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission, including establishing a National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Wellbeing and a Peak Body for ESOs, and continuing to permanently reduce the DVA claims backlog, including support for advocates and advocacy.

January 2024

The RSL has provided feedback to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) on the effectiveness of the DVA administration of the pilot Wellbeing and Support Program (WASP). WASP was designed to help veterans who had been identified as having very complex, acute and multiple needs adjust to life after service and establish lasting connections with local health and support services. The RSL has made a series of observations and recommendations for the ANAO to consider.

December 2023

This paper provides RSL Australia’s response to the Royal Commission’s consultation paper Proposed new entity to promote the wellbeing of Defence members and veterans. It represents a consolidated response from across the League, including state and territory branches. It follows on from the RSL Australia March 2023 submission to the Royal Commission, Proposal for Implementation of Recommendations.

November 2023

This submission is provided to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide on behalf of participants of the recent series of National Forums for Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs). It presents the insights for an ESO sector response to the establishment of an ESO Peak Body framework.

Note: The original submission indicated ADSO instead of RARC on pg. 32 and excluded the RARC logo, which has since been rectified.

November 2023

The RSL has made recommendations to Government that we believe will result in an intelligence community that is more unified with a leaner bureaucracy, and a concept for strategic assessments that will support defence and national security strategies, enhance intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations whilst also ensuring we have sufficient indications and warning to defend against attacks by land, sea, air, cyber and space.

October 2023

The RSL believes that everybody – especially veterans – should have the right to stable, ongoing accommodation that is safe and secure. The RSL submission focuses on Homelessness amongst veterans, risk factors increasing likelihood of homelessness amongst veterans, and short-medium-and long-term solutions for veterans. RSLA is committed to ending veteran homelessness across Australia.

October 2023

The RSL believes strong consideration should be given to transitioning the Defence and Veterans’ Legal Service to become a permanent legal service provider for veterans and their families. The RSL recommends that the Federal Government provides long-term, and sustainable needs-based funding for legal assistance, to enable the delivery of advocacy services, and support the continuous improvement and delivery of advocate training and mentoring. This includes at the Administrative Review level, where practising lawyers may provide representation to a veteran.

May 2023

RSL Australia has responded to the 2023-24 Federal Budget summarising how the budget accounts for implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission and explaining which measures will focus on veterans and their families. The report's final page summarises what RSL has been lobbying for vs the budget response.

April 2023
This paper has been prepared to further understanding of the criticality of appropriately trained and resourced advocates in enabling veterans and their families to access funding and other supports designed to further veterans’ health and wellbeing. It proposes potential solutions to challenges and is focused on further developing the existing advocacy system to enable delivery of better outcomes for veterans and their families. These proposals are intended to be implemented collaboratively between ESOs, DVA and the ATDP.

March 2023

Proposal for implementation of Recommendations.

This submission provides RSL Australia’s response to the Royal Commissioners’ calls for feedback on the potential creation of a suitable entity with comprehensive oversight and powers to drive lasting reform to help reduce the incidence of suicide amongst serving and ex-serving ADF members.

March 2023

The RSL, along with the Defence Reserves Association, and the Defence Force Welfare Association, have made a joint submission to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh, seeking his support for the extension of non-liability health care (NLHC) for all Defence Reservists. NLHC enables eligible veterans to access treatment at DVAs’ expense for specified conditions without establishing a link to service and allows prompt access to mental health treatment.

March 2023

The RSL has called on the Federal Government to harmonise the funeral benefits payable to service veterans to remove the existing disparity. Currently, the benefits paid range from just $2000 to $12,600. The RSL says bringing the payments together is one of the more straightforward legislative changes the Government could make and could be achieved relatively quickly. Doing so would ensure fairness for older veterans and their families.

February 2023

The 2023-24 Budget presents the Australian Government with the opportunity to further deliver on the commitments it made in its previous Budget, to sustain an effective response to the emerging findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission and to ensure that our service men and women are able to experience a healthy transition from service, engage in fulfilling civilian careers and continue to make positive social and economic contributions to our nation.